March 2007

Last weekend marked an important milestone in our seasonal beach rhythm. A day I dream about all winter long. That would be the first trip of the season to the beach without being frozen in 2 minutes. Hooray - I'm so glad it has arrived! It feels *so* good to easily breathe the ocean air in once again, and to eagerly anticipate the many many beach trips to come this year. And so now we just wait for the next marker - the first day we put our bodies into the ocean! Calvin's pushing for next week. I will not be surprised. Nor, however, will I follow. Yet, anyway.

Thanks for all of your shop support yesterday! This is the rest of the sewing-to-sell work that's been done these past few weeks. These childrens placemats and napkin sets (much like these ones) were made for Edith & Edna.

And a new style of smocks, adapted from a vintage pattern. These will also be available at Edith & Edna in the coming weeks.

The smocks are linen on one side and cotton print on the other -fully reversible - this one with the bird fabric from Superbuzzy that I love so very much (ha! I popped over there to grab that link, and wouldntcha know, I ordered another yard of it, and um, a book. Okay, and some more fabric too. Um, how did that happen?)

Adelaide is very much into the birds outside right now (the same birds that her
dear kitty cat is naughtily stalking out the window. Hmnn.). She runs to the
windows throughout the day hollering "BIR!" (Bird). And she's totally
in that phase where each word gets stuck on repeat, until another one
she knows is brought to mind. So, it's more like "Bir!" "Bir!" "Bir!"
"Bir!" and so on (and so on), until "Tat!" (Cat) or something else comes out. That's the long way of saying that this smock isn't heading into a shop, but staying right on my sweet baby girl, who loves her birds.

There's still snow on the ground...but nonetheless, the birds are back, and we're all very, very happy about that. There's a new flock of bird aprons around too! A whole big flock of them have just been added to the Etsy shop this morning. You'll find child and adult sizes. These will be the last of the bird aprons, so if you missed out last time, I hope today will be your chance! I won't be making these again.

You'll find just a few market totes in the shop as well. Remember, these are made with all vintage fabrics. And I seriously want to keep them all. But I won't, I promise.

Tomorrow I'll show you some things I've made for my favorite local shop. It's been a flurry of sewing-to-sell these past few weeks, and it's been quite fun. I actually enjoy making 'sets' of things, and I've enjoyed keeping the shop updated regularly this year. Of course, it's made all the more fun with your positive feedback and support by buying my wares, so Thank You for that! But now I think I'm going to ease up on the sewing-to-sell, and the Etsy updates, and slide into more of a monthly update. I'm feeling my energy and focus pulled in some other directions right now. Some writing projects in the works. A bit of necessity sewing (these kids - who said they could keep growing?). And some gardening and spring yard readiness outside. Yes, it's definitely time to shift some energy outside. The birds are back, after all.

Thanks, today and always, for your support for what I do. It's so very much appreciated.

I've been expecting this for a while now. But like many other things in parenting, home education and life, I knew all I could do was to 'leave the door open,' wait for him to come to me, and then guide ever-so slowly and patiently. And let him to take the lead. So, earlier this week, when Calvin came to me with a drawing of a costume (in the foreground of the photo), and said, "I want to make this," I was rather caught off guard. Half-thinking, and half on parenting auto-pilot, I said, 'Well, lets eat breakfast first. And then I told Ezra we'd paint. And then..(blah blah blah)...and so maybe tonight when you go to sleep I could work on it, or Saturday afternoon might be better."

"No, Mama. I want to make this. I want to sew it. I drew a picture of it, and I looked at the costume book, and I know I can do it."

"Oh. Oh!YOU want to sew it! Oh! Well, you could do that. I could get you set up for that this morning", I sputtered out as I quickly gathered my wits and slowed down my excitement before it turned him off from the idea completely.

So that's what we did. I brought down my old sewing machine, and plopped it right down on the same table where it had lived for years before I had my studio, where I sewed with it day in and day out of his early years as a babe. The same machine that my grandmother gave to me, and on the same table that my great grandmother - a seamstress herself - sewed every single day. His great - great grandmother.

And then before I got swept up in a sentimental ride of it all, I was brought right back down to reality by a six year old learning something new. Needles to thread. And rethread. A baby to keep occupied (by 'helping' with scissors and pins, naturally). And as little explaining as I could manage to give from my corner of the room where I chewed my fingers like a nervous mother, where I worried that clothing might not be the best 'first' sewing project. But I know this little guy well enough to know that too much instruction will completely turn him off (hmmn...I don't know where he gets that), and that he wouldn't begin to attempt something until he'd studied, watched and thought about it a good deal already. Which apparently is just what he's been doing, because he really did know just what to do. He traced a tunic he wanted for the shape, pinned it together, and asked me to 'draw a line' where the sewing should be (a brilliant idea, I thought), and then...he had a costume.

But, being that one tunic does not a theatre troupe make, he went right to work on one for his brother (Tiger Lily and Wendy, in case you're wondering).

And then back to the machine to make one for his sister, with excitement, pride, and creative energy pouring out of him. And so it appears that this sewing machine is going to have a home in this little corner of our home once again. Oh, this could be fun...

Thrifting alone is always lovely. But thrifting with friends who are equally freaky as I about vintage dishes, fabric, patterns, jewelry, clothes and everything else? Well, there's nothing better.

Because really, I think we all need someone around when we're marathon thrifting - to talk us out of the beautiful, but overpriced tablecloth (to the cries of, "but it's Vera!"); to restore breathing when spotting the most gorgeous of doll quilts that would blow the day's whole budget; to pace oneself through the aisles and aisles of goodness; to gently nudge one out of the temporary lapse in taste (ahem.); to remind one of the vintage apron collection already at home; to aid in the selection of the *perfect* salt and pepper shakers (important decisions, I tell you!), as though they really care. Because, well, they actually really do care about such things. And most importantly, to encourage each other that, YES!, whatever we've got our heart set on is simply GORGEOUS and perfect and a bargain, and a must have. Of course. This is the kind of support a good friend lends, right?

And then there is the help to pull me out (quite literally) of the vortex that is my favorite flea market stall - at just the right time before I crawl myself under the table with all the vintage fabrics for an uncivilized little lie down. Oh, but wouldn't that be nice. (By the way, I'm not pregnant. Just looking pregnant. Fun. I've just now decided never to wear that shirt again.)

I was so happy after a day of thrifting adventures to come home with these little treats...

...and these. But I'm even happier to come home feeling refreshed, connected, and much lighter than when the day started. Thank you, my freaky peeps. I love you guys. Um, how about next Saturday?

A perfectly timed gentle nudge is a quite welcome thing indeed. I'm especially grateful for one I had last week while reading one of our favorite family books to the boys. While reading and talking about that book, I made the decision to put aside all other crafting, work and house projects for a bit to complete this one thing that's been in the back of my mind for several years now.

This lap quilt is for my dearest Meme. My dear, sweet Meme who had a stroke four years ago, and now struggles quite a bit. She struggles to know who we are, and to know what's going on around her. But she feels it and still knows so much - I can see it in her beautiful eyes, and I can feel it in her hands when I hold them. Before her stroke, old things were always so important to her - among other treasures, she was the keeper of the trunks full of family photographs. And now, while her life has completely changed since her stroke, photographs have remained a constant - they've become the main focus of her days. Looking and remembering.

I've been wanting to make this lap quilt for her for a while now. But many things kept getting in the way - not the least of which being that I don't really *love* the photos-on-fabric thing. And choosing fabric that I know she'd love but that I might not enjoy working with. And gathering the photos, and trying to make sure everyone was equally 'represented'....well, you know, I just kept putting a million little things in the way of getting this done. Until that moment with the boys, when the three of us were talking about how we choose what the most important thing is in each moment. And there was this quilt - coming up from my heart, and suddenly clearing all the clutter out of my brain, telling me that this single most important thing I could be doing with my time right now. And so it was. Gone instantly were all the nagging and stressing details about the project, and in it's place were energy, passion and a flood of memories (and tears) and love that I then put into each and every stitch.

After a week of work on it, it's now done. I know that it's not the most aesthetically beautiful, the most complicated of designs, or even the most precise of my sewing...but I do know that this is one of the most important things I've ever made. I have no grand illusions that she'll be able to say much to me about it, nor, sadly, that it will be enjoyed by her for years more to come. My greatest of hopes for it is that it will bring this woman that I love so very much just a little smile, and perhaps a small moment of joy. And so now the most important thing I can do - plowing through all the excuses and details in the way - is to make the journey to her to pass it from my hands to hers.

There are three essential supplies that seem to be needed for nearly every child 'project' in our home: scissors, string, and of course, duct tape. And with just those three things? Well, it's pretty amazing what can be done, I do now believe. Today? A working drawbridge. And later, a slingshot (It's a very good thing we're outside again).

Thanks for visiting through my silence this week. I lost my voice a week ago (I'm feeling much better now, thank you!), and I always take that as a sign that I need to be quiet - to do more listening and watching. So that's just what I tried to do this week. I couldn't have picked a better week to do so, either - welcoming Spring, listening for the return of the birds, staying outside for hours on end for the first time in months, soaking up the sun, watching my babes rediscover their sacred outside spots and favorite projects....well, it was all wonderfully invigorating and spirit-filling. Beauty and inspiration really are all around us.

Back to 'normal' posting will resume on Monday, with some crafting to report, and a shop update on Tuesday Thursday! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

It's been a wet, sloppy, warm and melting kind of a week. We've done lots of dreaming and planning and a bit of prepping for springtime work. But it appears that the week of melting and mild weather might have given us the false notion that spring is nearby. But, alas, another storm is headed our way today. Another foot of snow. Oh my. Winter's not over yet.

So, we'll welcome King Winter for one last play (and I'll unpack the sleds and skis that I just put away), while we dream and remember that soon this favorite little spot of mine will be covered in green and daffodils, and we'll be sitting on this bench barefoot, hearing the birds all around, and watching the apple blossoms blow on this tree. And that will be quite lovely, indeed. Soon.

**I"ll be taking a little blog break to turn off the computer, play in the snow and dream of spring. I'll be back sometime late next week! Take care!**

This pile of polyester (yes, polyester) goodness is making me very happy these days. I recently found this vintage handmade coat on a thrift outing. And the kicker? It's REVERSIBLE! Oh, the goodness. I adore it so very much.

Thanks for the photos, sweet Calvin. And thanks for spotting me the Goodwill cash, sweet Betsy. Indeed, a good friend is one who will share her thrifting cash.

And here are some little treasures I picked up in Davis Square in Boston this week. This fabric (a curtain) is so dreamy, I keep imagining all sorts of things to do with it. I've written a bit more about these over on the Tag Sale Tales blog, where I hope to pop in from time to time as a guest blogger. Thanks for the patient invitation, Jenny!

I've always been a little unsure of bigger cities. I, of course, love what they have to offer, and the beauty and the diversity and the pulse is all so amazing to me. But I also get terribly overstimulated by noise, traffic, and busyness - not to mention the sometimes-intensity of human interactions, experience and emotion that is found when you're surrounded by so many people. I always feel so swept up in that, and a little overwhelmed.

I had a meeting for the book in Boston yesterday, which Steve offered to drive me down for, and we decided to turn into a day long 'date' without the babes (a little shopping, some thrifting, and a lot of eating. Good fun). Granted, it was a date in which I left for four hours in the middle, but he was thrilled to be alone in the city with no responsibilities whatsoever. He walked and walked, watching, talking, and taking it all in. Later, when we met up again, I flipped through the photos he had taken on his walk, and suddenly, something clicked for me about the city that I had never seen before. There was quiet. There was stillness. Amidst all the chaos and busyness around (which is what I am inclined to notice), he saw peace, quiet, and nature in the middle of it all. And some of that stillness seemed to actually be the noise itself, if that makes any sense at all. His photos had such a peace about them that I never would have imagined coming from the city. And that, my friends, is just what he does in life. I'm sure it's what made him able to guide whitewater rafts, and kayak in the most intense of whitewater with calm and ease. And I bet it's what makes him a level-headed mediator in his work. And I know it's what makes him a patient and strong parent and husband.

Yesterday, right in the middle of the city, I was inspired by him once again. To stop, take a breath, and find the calm within first, and then the calm amidst the chaos aroud us - the same search as the peace in the discord of parenting, and the still in the busyness of our lives. The quiet in the noise.

Thanks for driving, dear one. And for your photos. And for everything else, too.

As evidenced quite clearly by this here blog, I seem to make myself a new bag anytime I go anywhere that isn't the grocery store, playground, or thrift shop (though, I think it could be argued that new bags have been made for these occassions too. Hmn). And so it makes perfect sense that this weekend, this bag was whipped up, as today I'm headed out for a little day trip, sans babes (the same babes who clearly love the camera). I've been sitting on this fabric for a bit thinking I was going to make curtains out of it. But that isn't happening, and so I'm happy to cut into it, I love it so. The colors are perfectly my favorite - the charcoal grey and pink-pink combination, with my green (ah, green) thrown in for good measure. I thought I was going to make a tote, but then I felt like throwing in some pleats, and well, this is what I ended up with. And I think I'm digging it. We'll see how much I dig it after toting it around for the day - I'll report back!

I receive many emails asking for more information about the birthday crowns I make. They're made with a combination of the wool/felt blend (for the lining), and the 100% wool plant-dyed felt (for the front), which I wrote about here. There's a 1" wide elastic band in the back, covered in fabric, which is what makes it adjustable for most head sizes. The bits of embroidery are usually inspired by the fabric I'm using on the crown, or sometimes from this fabulous book of embroidery designs (which I must admit, I don't actually own...someday I'll actually figure out how to purchase it, and until then I peek at the pages that people have shared). The ribbon is all vintage, but purchased recently from Les Bon Ribbon.
The pattern for the crowns is my own, and it's actually one of the
patterns featured in my book, including the template and step-by-step instructions on making your own.

I love making these. Particularly the handwork parts are so fun as I think about what little one might wear it for their own special day. In our house, at least, the Birthday Crown is of high importance. Above are a few I worked on this weekend that are now waiting patiently for the next shop update on the 20th. Incidentally, want to see what's inside that pretty old picnic basket?

I'm sorry - I shouldn't have scared you like that. Pretty bad, isn't it? It actually doesn't really bother me, since I have no patience for doing anything about it. I pick up 99% of my embroidery floss at thrift shops and yard sales, and often they're bundled and wadded up in a big ziploc, which just gets emptied and stuffed on top of this pile. So now you know - I'm a bit of an embroidery floss organizing failure. Sigh.

No, this isn't THE Book. It's just a Blurb blog book for my babes (say that ten times). Blurb - an online book making company - has a feature that can turn a blog into a book. Every once in a while it's occured to me that I've done nothing to back up this blog, and that if anything were to happen over at dear Typepad, all of the archives could be lost in a puff of smoke (I suppose there wouldn't be any smoke). Which isn't a terribly big deal (frankly, some of those early posts make me cringe when I stumble upon them now), but I think the babes might someday like to have a peek at what this whole blog thing was about. Or at the very least, they'll want to know exactly what I told the whole wide world about them. And honestly? My baby book record keeping is subpar at best. I can take all the extra supplementing I can get.

The short of it is that Blurb works by downloading your blog into their software, where you can then format and edit the book, and then upload it back to them for printing. There are many options along the way that will affect pricing, layout, content, binding, etc. I found it to be a rather smooth process, easy to follow, and such. Since I wanted one blog post (and it's photos) per page, I just printed Year One this time. Still - that was four hundred and something pages long, making for some tedious formatting, and a rather hefty price at the end (this is all the fault of the quantity of my content, not Blurb). I'm really impressed with the quality of the book itself - it's quite well made. Soon, I'll make my way through year two and print that one, which I fear is going to be bigger. Apparently I got wordy in year two. Me, wordy? I had no idea.

Added later: Well, I should have known you'd all be so interested in this! Isn't it such a great idea? You can find more information on their pricing here. Mine is gigantic, so it fit into the top price category ($80). I said the price was 'hefty', but really, I'm pleased with what I got for the price. As for the process, I don't really have any tips to share - it went smoothly for me. I had 400 posts I put in this book, and nearly 700 photos, so downlaoding/uploading took a long, long time, even with my broadband connection. It does only work with blog programs (Typepad and such), and yes there is an option to print blog comments. And no - I'm not advertising for Blurb, but hey! I'll gladly take a discount on my next order! (wink, wink.)

It's kind of amazing how something so seemingly simple as an apron could consume so much of my thinking space and energy this week. But alas, they have and now here they are. I'm so happy with how they turned out - and amazingly, they're just as I had envisioned. Hooray for that.

They're the same basic shape as the aprons I've made in the past, but with a few changes. I swapped out the lightweight canvas for a 100% linen -it adds a bit of cost, but the softness is so worth it to me. The neckstraps are ties, rather than a strap, so they're fully adjustable for many sizes (the same smock fits both Adelaide and Calvin). The mama smocks have some pleating at the top for a wee bit of shaping. And a patchwork pieced pocket on the front (with a big nod of inspiration to dear Sally). And since the return of the birds is a very anticipated even around here these days, it was only natural that the birds found their way onto this project, in the form of an appliqued and embroidered patch.

These are up in the shop now. Four child sized smocks and two mama sized smocks. In addition to another linen smock set, and a few totes. I think I'm slipping into an every other week shop update, so the next one will be Tuesday, March 20th. And yes, I think I will make one more round of these aprons for that day. Thank you for being so interested!

Thanks, as always, friends, for your support. (Would you care for an orange?)

A few covers that have made their way onto my work table and then into our home in the past few months.

window coverMade on New Years morning, to be precise. I remember because we were just about to host a brunch and when cleaning the bathroom I was slightly horrified at the ripped, stained and old curtain hanging there. So. As we do, I made this one in time for the guests to arrive. I used a thrifted sheet, and the blue is leftover from the bathroom rugs I made last fall. I think it's enough so that they 'match' without being 'matchy'. I don't know, that's what I tell myself anyway. And the scene above? Oh, that would be the cat outside trying to get his girl to let him in the window, and his girl looking at me with disgust that I won't comply (I have this silly thing about using doors for such things).

television coverI used a thick, but soft upholstery fabric so it would hold shape on our odd shaped television (the old cover was floppy and irritating), and binding on the bottom. If you look closely, you'll see that it's an inch too short. Dang. That would be my math skills at work. The shortness kind of drives me crazy too, so I think there will be a new, and BIGGER binding added to this soon. Oh, and the nest patch! A little treat from Lisa Solomon that I was very happy to use. Stephanieposted about her television cover yesterday, and mentioned also seeing one in the latest Blueprint.

box coverI picked up this hinged box on a thrifting trip recently, and covered it with one of my favorite prints (I think it's Robert Kaufman). One of my 'strategies' for combining handwork with the daily care of little ones, is that I always keep projects close at hand. Nearly every room has a basket of some kind that holds embroidery, knitting, sewing, and the like. So if and when there are moments when all is well throughout the room, and I'm itching to play with thread and needle, there's always a project nearby. It works pretty well for me. These 'room basket' projects generally move along at a slow pace, but I like the consistency of them - and usually, when each is finished, I have a flood of memories of what was going on around me as I worked on them.

For nearly a year, since I began the first work on the book, Saturday has slipped into being my 'work' day. The day I get up, have breakfast with the babes and Steve, and then head all the way up the stairs (ha!) to my studio for a day of work. Writing, sometimes thrifting, sewing, and making things. There are many interruptions of the lovely kind ("Mama! I made this for you!" or "I brought you a snack!"), and some of the more challenging kind (a lovely little technique that apparently all persistent and clever little ones employ - when you don't get the answer you're looking for from one parent, just ask the other! Steve and I call this 'staff splitting,' and are quite entertained when we've been duped).

I've come to love and treasure this studio day, and usually know just what I'll do in there before my time even begins. This weekend I worked on a new design for the shop that I'm really excited about. You can see a snippet of it above. But I ran out of photographing time, so I'm moving the shop update back a day this week. The update will happen on Wednesday morning.

I love the weekly rhythm of my studio day, and I love the little routines and rituals that have fallen into place through the day, as well. It almost always begins with blog catch up from the week (I read just a handful each day, but save most for this weekend read), followed by music (in heavy rotation this month are this, this and this) and tidying the studio to get ready to work. This weekend, when I saw The Purl Bee's post and tutorial for "swatch portraits', it didn't take long for me to dig out all the wood embroidery hoops I had and get to work making my own for a small part of my studio wall, before I began any other work.

I love this idea (I'm guessing I'm not alone - will we see more of these this week in blog world?). I quickly ran out of embroidery hoops before I ran out of wall space and 'favorite' fabrics to use, but that will be remedied quickly at my next thrift outing to be sure (did you know that my local chain craft store doesn't carry wood embroidery hoops anymore - just plastic? A shame). I'm so inspired by some of my favorite pieces of fabric, and keeping them visible like this keeps the inspiration right in sight, and fresh in the mind. Happiness.

Making plans for the first of the spring sewing. A dress for me. Spring coat for the babe. After subscribing for two years, this will be my first attempt at braving an OTTOBRE pattern - any tips for me?

Looking often and being quite thankful for this new-to-me fabric. Thanks to readers Melissa and Christie, who heard my grief over not finding any more of this last fall. Now, plans for Adelaide's Red Riding Hood quilt have begun!

After deciding that no, in fact, I do not need the super duper expensive bias binding foot for my Bernina, I've really been enjoying (yes, quite 'enjoying') making bias with the $10 solution. Perfect.

With much embarrassment, finally getting our mini-swap package out the door (one month late! Ack!). Now it just has to travel across the world. Apologies to our new New Zealand friends! It's coming!

It appears that we're getting covered in snow right now, and through the weekend. I like March snow. We can fully enjoy and savor it as the 'last' of the season, and at the same time, know that Mrs. Thaw and her robins will be here soon.

To say that I'm becoming a morning person would be very untrue and a little laughable. But. That said, I have been rising before sunrise with the babe (she's not a sleeper, I tell you) on the nights when Steve's been up late with her (this too shall pass, this too shall pass.). And there's something so magical about those hours of stillness. So quiet, and fresh, and soft, really. I love the ritual of walking around the house quietly turning things on, opening things up, and clearing out for the day. Adelaide toddles about around me, helping as she does. And then we head to the kitchen, where the coffee is started, and breakfast is begun. A little clean up, singing with my girl, and just as the muffins come out of the oven, the sun begins to rise and shine right in through the kitchen window. Coffee's done. We set out some food, she brings some from her kitchen. And we sit in the stillness. And read or sing. And wait for the pitter patter of little feet above, followed by a "good mor-ning!" from the top of the stairs.

And just as amazing as the stillness is the way in which that stillness turns into noise and life in an instant. Just like that, the day has begun.

. . . . . . . .

Greetings! I'm Amanda Blake Soule - mother of five, author of three books on family creativity, and editor-in-chief of Taproot Magazine. I live with my family in an old farmhouse in Western Maine where we raise animals, grow vegetables and make lots of things. I write about it all here on the blog. Thank you for visiting!